The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a total solar eclipse in Varanasi, India, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swath of Asia from India to China into near darkness Wednesday as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon.PHOTO:(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

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Eclipse Sells out Flights; Jammed Roads Expected

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH, KY - The Great American Eclipse is just over a week away, and officials are ramping up information about how to navigate across the area with an extra half million visitors spread out across the region. Keith Todd with KYTC and said the day of the eclipse will see an even bigger surge for those that only plan to drive in and stay for the day.

"The morning of the eclipse, we're expecting a lot of people coming in in the early morning hours and in that afternoon," says Todd.

"After it's over at about 2 in the afternoon, we're expecting people to start leaving, and that's when we are expecting the traffic crunch."

Again on Tuesday morning, when visitors with overnight accomodations check out of local hotels, traffic could be busier than normal.

Todd says NASA is estimating anywhere from 150,000 up to a half million visitors in western Kentucky for the event.

Meanwhile, driving will be the only available opportunity for those that were hoping to book a last minute flight. According to United Airlines, all incoming flights at Barkley Airport are booked solid through at least Monday morning, and all outbound flights are sold out until at least two days after the eclipse.